Document x1a2nkONrbydRoXYjJ33MKX7Q

Sent: 20 December 2022 13:27:19 Subject: Publication of Guidance on the Use, Storage and Disposal of Class B Firefighting Foam Containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Importance: Normal Sensitivity: None Attachments: 221220-pops firefighting foam PFOA disposal FINAL PDF.pdf, PUBLIC Guidance on the Use, Storage and Disposal of Class B Firefighting Foam Containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) SE PA/ Scottish Environment Protection Agency Buidheann Dion Arainneachd na h-Alba Following a period of stakeholder engagement we are now in a position to share the final version of our Guidance on the Use, Storage and Disposal of Class B Firefighting Foams Containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) (Dec 2022). This guidance is aimed at anyone in Scotland who uses, stores, or disposes of Class B firefighting foams (FFs), and/or any other Firefighting foams, containing Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), namely PFOA. This includes manufacturers and suppliers of these fire foams as well as industries such as petrochemical, airports, harbours/ports, distillers, energy and waste sectors as well as others. The Guidance will be available for view on SEPA's website shortly. In the meantime, please share the attached guidance with your relevant stakeholders. If ou have any questions in relation to the guidance and your regulatory requirements as set out please contact us at se a.or .uk. Summary: Class B Firefighting Foams (for example C8) have historically contained chemicals from the PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances) group of chemicals, namely perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS), and, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds. PFOS and its related substances were restricted under the Stockholm Convention in May 2009, and therefore its use is already banned, and you should have ceased using and disposed of an stockpiles by June 2011. If you think your firefighting foam may contain PFOS, please urgently email: se a.or .uk using "possible PFOS containing FFs" as the subject to your email. It is important that SEPA is notified of these stockpiles before you undertake the steps to dispose of the foam On the 1 January 2023 the requirements in relation to any firefighting foam that contains PFOA will change to limit their use which is the focus of this guidance. 'a0 The law does not allow the use of substances, mixtures and articles containing PFOA, its salts and PFOA related compounds beyond 1 January 2023 other than in accordance with certain requirements and timescale which are summarised in the guidance. Where you are intending to continue to store or use firefighting foam containing (or potentially containing) PFOA in accordance with the conditions of the regulations or have a stockpile of more than 50 kg at a given location of firefighting foam containing (or potentially containing) PFOA above the concentration thresholds (including materials contained in hand-held extinguishers and/or foam concentrate), you are required to report annually by 4 July to SEPA at ft.sepa.org.uk . Details are set out in the guidance. PUBLIC